Proverbs 30:5,6 - God's Word Is Flawless. Changing It Makes You A Liar.

Proverbs 30:5, 6: God's Word Is Flawless. Changing It Makes You
A Liar.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Proverbs 30:5, 6 (KJV) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield
unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words,
lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Proverbs 30:5, 6 (NIV) "Every word of God is flawless; he is a
shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he
will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Proverbs 30:5, 6 (CWR) Every word of God is sure. He is a
shield to all who come to Him for protection. Do not add to what He
has said or take away from it as if you know more than He does. He
will reprove you and show that you're a liar.
Proverbs 30:5, 6 (TMWB) The believer replied, "Every promise of
God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So
don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your
lies."
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview of Proverbs 30 & 31
Three authors contribute to these two chapters. Agur, humble,
but a sharp observer of nature and humankind (30:1-33). King Lemuel,
pen name for a man who shares his mother's thoughts on ruling
(31:1-9). And the unnamed author of an acrostic poem in praise of a fine
wife (vv. 10-31). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
The origin of these sayings is not clear. Nothing is known about
Agur except that he was a wise teacher who may have come from
Lemuel's kingdom. [Life Application SB]
The Words of Agur (30:1-33)
Agur Speaks About God
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Psalm 12:6 (KJV) The words of the Lord are pure words: as
silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 119:140 (KJV) Thy word is very pure: therefore thy
servant loveth it.
Psalm 18:30 (KJV) As for God, his way is perfect: the word of
the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalm 19:8 (KJV) The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing
the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the
eyes.
Romans 7:12 (KJV) Wherefore the law is holy, and the
commandment holy, and just, and good.
James 3:17 (KJV) But the wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy
and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Psalm 84:11 (KJV) For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the
Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from
them that walk uprightly.
Deut. 12:32 (KJV) What thing soever I command you, observe to
do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Rev. 22:18-19 (KJV) For I testify unto every man that heareth
the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto
these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in
this book: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book
of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
Here are affirmed the reliability and the immutability of God's
word to his people. [Cambridge Annotated SB]
Supplementing God's Word with man's speculations is foolish
business. [Ryrie SB]
The declared wisdom of God, oral and written, is pure. God is a
Lord of no deception, and what He reveals has no flaw. It can be
counted on to sustain the believer. The reader is admonished not to add
or subtract from what God has made known and called His people to
follow. [Disciple SB]
Since the Word of God is purified by divine care, we should not
tamper with it. Our finite minds can never fully understand the
thoughts of God (Prov. 30:3, 4; Isa. 55:7-9). Moses gave a similar
warning concerning the utterances of God (Deut. 4:2). John closed the
last book of the Bible with an even more emphatic prohibition (Rev.
22:18, 19). There is no intention here to forbid the exposition of the
Word of God as long as that Word is left unadulterated to act as a
check upon the conclusions reached. It is the alteration or
abandonment of the objective standard of truth that brings confusion and
earns the reproof of God. [SDA Commentary]
We should reverence God's word. For the printed volume we should
show respect, never putting it to common uses, or handling it
carelessly. And never should Scripture be quoted in a jest, or paraphrased
to point a witty saying. "Every word of God is pure;" "as silver
tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." Proverbs 30:5;
Psalm 12:6. Above all, let children be taught that true reverence is
shown by obedience. God has commanded nothing that is unessential, and
there is no other way of manifesting reverence so pleasing to Him as
obedience to that which He has spoken. {Ed 244}
"Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put
their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee,
and thou be found a liar." Proverbs 30:5, 6. We are not doing the
will of God when we speculate upon things that He has seen fit to
withhold from us. The question for us to study is: "What is truth, the
truth for this time, which is to be cherished, loved, honored, and
obeyed?" {8T 316, 317}
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those
things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever."
Deuteronomy 29:29. The revelation of Himself that God has given in His word
is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this
we are not to penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until
it is wearied out in conjectures regarding the nature of God, but
the effort will be fruitless. This problem has not been given us to
solve. No human mind can comprehend God. None are to indulge in
speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient
One is above discussion. Even the angels were not permitted to
share the counsels between the Father and the Son when the plan of
salvation was laid. And human beings are not to intrude into the secrets
of the Most High. We are as ignorant of God as little children;
but, as little children, we may love and obey Him. Instead of
speculating in regard to His nature or His prerogatives, let us give heed to
the words He has spoken: {MH 429}
Scientific research becomes misleading, because its discoveries
are misinterpreted and perverted. The word of God is compared with
the supposed teachings of science, and is made to appear uncertain
and untrustworthy. Thus the seeds of doubt are planted in the minds
of the youth, and in time of temptation they spring up. When faith
in God's word is lost, the soul has no guide, no safeguard. The
youth are drawn into paths which lead away from God and from
everlasting life. {COL 41.1}
In order to receive help from Christ, we must realize our need.
We must have a true knowledge of ourselves. It is only he who knows
himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. Only as we see our utter
helplessness and renounce all self-trust, shall we lay hold on divine power.
It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this
renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to
be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of
ourselves; therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the
heart after God, a constant, earnest confession of sin and humbling of
the soul before Him. Perils surround us; and we are safe only as we
feel our weakness and cling with the grasp of faith to our mighty
Deliverer. {8T 316}